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Ok, this is really just for fun, but I'm just curious. What spell has surprised you as being one of your favorites and why?
I'll start.
Keep Watch. My DM ruled that I'd be allowed to make scrolls while under this spell, so my character just does his part on watch and then does some work. It also helps in keeping prepared for nightly raids or if you have someone in your party you don't particularly trust (i.e. thieves).
So, what is a spell that has surprised you and is now or has been for some time, one of your favorites?
Shrink Item.
I had a sorcerer a few years back who used that spell obsessively. He shrunk everything that might be useful or of some value, and recast the spell every week to make sure the items kept. His favorite tactic was shrinking something large, like a wagon, and then storing it in his haversack. When ranged combat broke out, he'd pull the wagon out, un-shrink it, and BAM! Instant Cover.
He was based loosely on the Good magician Humphry from the Xanth novel The Source of Magic by Piers Anthony; Humphry stored objects in a series of glass vials, and would pop a bottle with whatever the situation called for.
Sounds pretty fun. That spell definitely allows for a lot of options. I'd be curious if one could force a person to swallow it then just let the time run out.
Also, I just noticed that I accidentally put this in the wrong forum. I had thought I put it into the normal general discussions. My bad...
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Vomit Swarm always makes me giggle. My Witch characters always take it when they get the chance. Also, it has no verbal component. It'd be pretty hilarious Stilled too.
"I have you grappled, Witch! What will you do now? Hahaha... wait, why are you smiling? AAAAAAH SPIDERS!"
I see why Shrink Item is awesome... I'll have to keep that in mind.
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I'm a huge fan of Burst of Radiance now. It seems like a great lower level spell for those that fight evil.
I like Soundburst as well. Both for the flavor. I like to add in magical FX to my spellcasting, so when I cast Soundburst I will offer a comedic prayer and describe how a soft green light starts to radiate from my hands, forming celestial glyphs of power as a massive ghostly church bell is summoned at the area and is rung, causing the sinful to be blasted and stunned.
I love to incorporate Command into sentences, "FLEE while you still can", or "Just stop there, DROP and give me ten". I think a few lucky Commands have saved my parties life more than any other spell so far, except maybe Magic Circle vs Evil.
It's been a while, but a Mark of Justice can be extremely fun, and I have great fun threatening out of character to Fireball all the important NPC's and items we need for missions.
I'm playing an arcane trickster in a game. I have TIny hut and Unseen servant memorized daily.
My character is very much against manual labor. He casts tiny hut and sends the servant to fetch firewood. It's become a running joke in our games that elves are nature-y, but never uncomfortable.
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Summon Monster I.
No, I'm serious.
Stop laughing at me!
Summon Monster I is underrated, because it's really hard to fit into a build. Sorcs and Wizards (among others) have no use for it at level 1 because the creature won't stick around long enough to be any better than a guaranteed-to-hit Magic Missile would... unless you find a way to get +1 Caster Level going on it. The "Force for Good" trait can help with this.
If you can get it going in conjunction with Augment Summoning at an early enough level, then it's a genuinely playable spell. Eagles, Dogs, and Dolphins are legitimate threats against the things you'll be running into at levels 1 and 2, still okay at level 3, and at least vaguely relevant at level 4 (by which time even Sorcs can pick up Summon Monster II); at the very least they're a cheap way to get a flanking bonus set up.
If the summoned animal has an Alignment (for example, it's brought in by an effect that causes it to have the same alignment as its caller)... then despite its Intelligence 2 there's a decent chance that "acting in accord with its general nature" might yield nice things. I've seen GMs be receptive to ideas like using a Celestial Dolphin to retrieve a drowning ally due to the dolphin having a Good alignment, for example! Provided it has sufficient duration and the GM agrees, they might bring said ally back above-water and drop them off at the nearest patch of dry land.
Not all GMs will go for it, but most of the ones I've played under allow this sort of thing so long as it doesn't go too far into implausible territory. So you get a passable combat skill, flank enabler, and a (where relevant) Alignment-influenced animal. One supposes Fiendish versions could do some pretty hilarious (read: mean) things to people instead if it doesn't run contrary to the summoner's interest.
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I second Vomit Swarm. Though in this case I'm an Alchemist fan, not a Witch one.
Especially when it upgrades.
"No, not the bees, not the bees AAAAARGH!"
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I have found that blistering invective works very nice for my bard.
Im a big fan of touch injection (alchemist). there are so many uses for a (often) saveless spell. Some favorites are detonation (obvious), skinsend, shred them of their skin for no save and instantly. Gaseous form, turn that BBEG that your party cannot defeat into a puff of mist for the next 10+minutes. Great for getting past guards as well. Negate aroma for that particularly unwashed barbarian ;) FIre sneeze, stops most anything in their tracks if you can resist the fire they do ;) Eruptive postules, COOTIES!! Eyebite. Why alchemists have this when it can only affect them is beyond me... and finally any negative potion you can get your hands on :)
Fire trail. "Somethings chasing us!" Gulp. "RUNNN!!!"
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I have found that blistering invective works very nice for my bard.
Ahhh blistering invective. Thats another one my alch likes to use.
"anyone got a good intimidate skill? You? Would you like to cast this?" Wink wink.| 7 people marked this as a favorite. |
Pilfering hand has got to be my favorite. My oracle stole the BBG fighter's crazy sword and the BG cleric's holy symbol in the same fight. Totally turned it around for our party. Plus it was hilarious.
"I told that guy to stop calling me a heretic."
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I am big fan of the spell Mad Monkey. Mostly for the hilarious visual of a swarm of monkeys throwing feces at you and pulling your hair, etc.
School conjuration (summoning); Level bard 3, druid 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, summoner 3
Casting Time 1 round
Components V, S, DF
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect swarm of monkeys
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You summon a swarm of screeching, mischievous monkeys. The swarm understands and obeys your commands and has the statistics of a monkey swarm. Creatures failing a saving throw against the mad monkeys' distraction attack are deafened for 1 minute as well as nauseated. The monkeys attempt one disarm or steal combat maneuver each turn as a free action against any creature that begins its turn in the swarm, using your caster level plus your casting ability score bonus (Intelligence for wizards; Wisdom for druids and oracles; Charisma for bards, sorcerers, and summoners) for its CMB. Recovering an item from the monkeys requires a successful disarm or steal attempt against that CMB + 10. An object stolen by the monkeys takes swarm damage each round the swarm is in possession of the object.
I like Ear Piercing Scream and Solid Note a lot.
My female bard has used solid note in several occasion to avoid falling to death or being pulled away or giving an ally something to hold on. Or even used a whip in combination with the note as hook for a dramatic entrances.
And Ear Piercing Scream just fits the bard very well. Even though it says creature as target, our GM allows using it on objects too. The iconic break a glass with your voice to entertain nobles, to breaking a potion about to be drunk by the enemy.
And don't underestimate the usefulness of sonic damage. It is rarely resisted. Chance to daze is a bonus.
Another vote for Mad Monkeys. I love that spell so much that I made 2-inch square color printouts of the Bestiary 2 artwork. Actually, I made six of them because I love casting that spell so much.
It's "the swarm understands and obeys your commands" part of the spell that makes PFS GMs cry and shake their heads after they ask to see proof that I own Ultimate Magic.
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Some of my favorites have already been mentioned here.
I have a gnome prankster bard who's only level 2 now, but I already know he'll be getting Blistering Invective, Pugwumpi's Grace, and Mad Monkeys as soon as he reaches high enough levels for them. Intimidating is already his "go to" move in battle (+14 at level 2, using Perform: Comedy and Versatile Performance), so he'll be awesome with Blistering Invective.
Grease is just so versatile that it's awesome. I've used it on the floor to trip multiple enemies, on the boots of a single enemy if there wasn't enough floor space to do a 10x10 square without my allies getting caught in it, on the handle of an enemy's weapon so he'd drop it, on an enemy spellcaster's wand in a surprise round to make him drop it before he could use it against us, and even on an ally's armor to help them escape a grapple. I'd say it's probably the best 1st level spell in the game.
Believe it or not, I'll second the vote for Summon Monster 1. When I made my sorcerer, I skipped it at level 1, due to the short duration. But I took it at level 3, and it's been very helpful. At that level, the little bit of damage the summoned critters do can actually be helpful. But even at higher levels (currently level 6 with that PC), I still use it when there's a rogue in the party, just because I've got tons of level 1 spell slots, so it's a cheap way to get a flanker. I call it "Summon Flanker 1" now. Also, summoned eagles are great for flying behind enemy lines and forcing enemy spellcasters to make concentration checks, even when my party's front liners can't get to the spellcaster yet.
For bards, I'm a big fan of all their immediate action spells. Liberating Command, Timely Inspiration, Gallant Inspiration, Saving Finale, etc. I've got an archer bard where I went with 18 dex and 14 str to be good at archery, leaving his cha at only 14, so he's not that great with offensive spells that require a saving throw. So he's mostly a buffer, other than focusing on the archery, and these types of little immediate action spells are great for that. He can buff his allies or himself with these spells while still firing arrows every round.
I'll put my bid in for good ol' Ray of Enfeeblement. Pound for pound, as a level 1 caster spell, it can be crippling (and hilarious) against your enemies. Especially at lower levels, when strength scores will be SERIOUSLY impacted by the loss of 1d6 STR (and often don't have the resources to fix it via Restoration yet).
I'm ashamed to admit this. Our tiefling mage (while hovering invisibly over a ballista crewed by three drow), used summon monster to drop a horse from 50 feet onto the drow and ballista. He agrued that the horse wasn't really a horse but a summoned construct embodying the spirit of a horse and that no real animals were harmed in the casting. We forbade him from doing that and specifically mentioned no cows near seige engines, esp catapults...
How'd it get burned? How'd it get burned? How'd it get burned? How'd it get burned? HOW'D IT GET BURNED, HOW'D IT GET BURNED?
God that movie makes me giggle...
Major Image! The uses are endless and if you gear your feats and abilitiy score for the Dcs, it is really unstoppable. I am all about versatility and that spell has it! Next down the line is Shadow Evocation! I don't even take evocation spells untill I get this one and--BOOM!---I have all of them 4th and down with one spell. Gnome Illusionist Sorcerer is the way to go...Spell Focus/Greater Illusions plus the Gnomes inherent +1 DCs and if you comb your beard just right....CHA is climbing to help your DCs! Plus it is fun to come up with new ways to kick your GM in the....hehe!
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You have to summon onto a surface that can support it. Otherwise, Communal Mount would be as good as Meteor Swarm.
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I'm ashamed to admit this. Our tiefling mage (while hovering invisibly over a ballista crewed by three drow), used summon monster to drop a horse from 50 feet onto the drow and ballista. He agrued that the horse wasn't really a horse but a summoned construct embodying the spirit of a horse and that no real animals were harmed in the casting. We forbade him from doing that and specifically mentioned no cows near seige engines, esp catapults...
Doesn't work. From the Summon Monster spell description in the Core Rulebook:
Creatures cannot be summoned into an environment that cannot support them.
Undine's Curse, after my witch hits a Slumber Hex.
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Glitterdust is a wonderfully multi-purpose spell that gets very little appreciation.
Say whaaaaaat? It's one of the most widely appreciated spells in the game, no? Definitely one of the very best level 2 spells.
I genuinely love Obsidian Flow as a spell. Some damage, largish area, entangles and creates difficult terrain.
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Glitterdust is a wonderfully multi-purpose spell that gets very little appreciation. I'll generally take it in preference to see invisibility because A) the spell can be used as a regular offensive spell instead, B) the whole party gets the benefit of seeing the invisible creatures thus revealed, C) in certain circumstances it negates stealth as well as invisibility, and D) in a pinch it can be used simply as a signal, though as Rich Burlew once pointed out dancing lights is the real bargain there.
Agreed that it's a great spell, but disagree that it's unappreciated. Like Grease, this one seems very popular, with good cause.
This is the "go to" offensive spell for my level 6 sorcerer. He usually casts Haste on the party in the first round of combat, Glitterdust to blind the enemies in the second round, and then gets distracted looking at the details of the room while the rest of the party finishes the fight (typical CN gnome personality). If it looks like a tough fight, he'll toss out another Glitterdust or Grease, or pull out a healing wand. If it looks really tough, he'll use that Hasted speed to run away.
The summon monster line for sure. There's no better feeling than a monstrosity rearing up in a dungeon, the party looks around at each other with the "Holy crap" look as they realize they're not suited to this combat. For example, the monk can't annihilate the flying beast with his 2 shurikens, the rogue can't get sneak attack on it since it's clearly a construct, and the fighter specd for swinging an earthbreaker really good can't get reach.
The wizard strolls up, and shazam, an air elemental pops up, throws two big slams at the thing, and moves it within striking range, the rest of the party plays pinata.
Or facing a swarm of diseased mosquitos, but all out of alchemist fire and can't deal much damage? Ta da, the small air elemental blows the bugs away.
Can't start a fire? Survival checks are failing, the DM's looking up the cold weather penalties with that devious look in his eye? Shazam, Fire elemental takes care of it.
Second favourite is secure shelter, for one thing it makes camping much more comfortable and has great combat utility. A few times when the fight isn't going well, my wizard contemplates bringing the house, hopping in, and enjoying a leisurely night's rest since the vampires killing off the party can't enter a home without being invited, and sunrise is only 5 hours away.
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Bestow Curse is probably my favourite spell in the whole game. It has amazing potential due to the fact that you can make up curses of your own!
I had a player once curse a hag with beauty, meaning that her Evil Eye stopped working. Classic!
I'm not sure I'd rule it that way...even beautiful gypsies sometimes supposedly had the 'evil eye'...but it's definitely funny and creative...might have to let it slide on that alone. :)
Bestow Curse is probably my favourite spell in the whole game. It has amazing potential due to the fact that you can make up curses of your own!
I had a player once curse a hag with beauty, meaning that her Evil Eye stopped working. Classic!
"Normally that look would strike my very soul, but on her, it just looks so cute!"
Glitterdust always left me with a question. Wouldn't the blinding part, blind your party as well?
@Third mind : it does. That's why wizard players are usually very good at targeting, and know every possible rules for target zones.
For some reason, I've grown attached to the Unseen Servant.
Ever since that thread popped up about 100 uses for it, I found myself getting it more often than not in my spellbooks.
Lipstitch! Mostly because I used it as a GM on some party members and had fun watching their horrified expressions as a described the effects of the spell. =D
None of the players had encountered the spell before either, so we had a fun quick session of questions. Can I talk? No but you can make a kind of muffled scream loud enough for everybody to hear. Um... I can't cast any of my spells, can I remove the bindings? Sure you can either cut them out or with a strength check you can just burst the bonds (at which point everybody winced).
It's a great spell to toss at the casters in your party!
I had a Gm figure that this would be a good spell to go against my feral gnasher barbarian (he bites people :P)
My response? I burst them lips! It should add some good hot sause to my next meal >:DHe didnt think it was very funny.
Curse, ya that one is a great favorite as well. There was a thread going around about different curses you could make up for it. I will see if I can find it here somewhere.
Glibbness. Through bracers of the glibb entertainer you can give this to anyone :D
What used to be a bard only spell has had tremendous effect on my lying rakasha sorcerer >:D
Enlarge person. Oh man my martials tend to love this spell. I have had more than a few get this permancied just for the flavour of it. I love dem big guys ;)
Sculpt corpse. A necromancer boss used this against the party. It had 20ish skellies up and about that all looked exactly like the necromancer. It was a fun fight, liked it ever since.
Desecrate. For those skellie masters that want to get that really big creature that the party just slaughtered.
Spontaneous Immolation. Is. Just. Fun. :)
Swarm Skin. I had a Druid that thought "hey this looks like fun!" So I stashed my body in a safe place (literally in a chest) and proceeded to swarm away. After a bit I decided to go back to my body. The chest was missing.
I ended up spending 2 fuking sessions 'looking' for my bones and stuck as a massive swarm of spiders. To be honest, it was a lot of fun and it was real different playing as a carpet rather than a character and thankfully we had a cleric that could heal me (immune to target spells). Going into town was.... difficult but fun.
well there are a few more but this is good for now!
One of my favorite spells is one I didn't choose myself but learned from a scroll found in some ruins:
Creatures adjacent to you when this spell is cast and at the start of your turn take 2d6 points of damage. In addition, creatures affected by your aura are fatigued, cannot breathe, and cannot speak or cast spells with somatic components. Creatures adjacent to you are allowed a Reflex save to halve the damage and negate the fatigue effect, but cannot breathe or speak regardless of whether their save is successful as long as they are adjacent to you.
Last night we had to fight a lich and my witchdoctor used this spell and after that persued the lich using the flight hex to keep him from using his ugliest spells.
Sure it didn't do much damage and the lich could not be fatigued but the "can't speak or use spells with somatic components" part always works. Even with a successful save.
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My 3.5 favorite spell was Servant Horde. Basically 3rd level wiz spell to summon 2d6+ CL unseen servants. Max of +10 I think. I would SO want that IRL. It'd take about 10 minutes to clean my house.
My 3.5 favorite spell was Servant Horde. Basically 3rd level wiz spell to summon 2d6+ CL unseen servants. Max of +10 I think. I would SO want that IRL. It'd take about 10 minutes to clean my house.
That's true. But IRL most people would choose other spells than as an adventuring pc, I guess.
Vomit Swarm always makes me giggle. My Witch characters always take it when they get the chance. Also, it has no verbal component. It'd be pretty hilarious Stilled too.
"I have you grappled, Witch! What will you do now? Hahaha... wait, why are you smiling? AAAAAAH SPIDERS!" ...
I like eruptive pustules for similar reasons of ick.
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Grease. It remains an excellent battlefield control spell even at high levels. I remember this battle 200' up the aside of a cliff in the under dark with a bunch of advanced ropers. They fell, Ilaughed, the GM grimaced over how I trivialized a high level encounter with the same spell I used in the first combat of the first module.
My life oracle is having a blast with chain of perdition and pilfering hand.
... I have used this spell on my cleric in just about every combat ...
I hope you mean your cleric is casting the spell. Not that you are casting it on the cleric in the party every combat. He might start refusing to heal you.
Mending. It's so much fun to turn the background-describing flavour text into usable objects.
Or to take a bite out of your sandwich, and then repair it.
I like eruptive pustules for similar reasons of ick.Vomit Swarm always makes me giggle. My Witch characters always take it when they get the chance. Also, it has no verbal component. It'd be pretty hilarious Stilled too.
"I have you grappled, Witch! What will you do now? Hahaha... wait, why are you smiling? AAAAAAH SPIDERS!" ...
Touch injection and eruptive pustules.
@VRMH Mending requires all the pieces to be present. Sadly no fixed sammach for you :(